Getting Connected: Strategies for Expanding the Employment Networks of Low-Income People
From LiteracyTentWiki
This report, issued by Public/Private Ventures, can be found as a pdf here: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/194_publication.pdf.
It looks at issues around how people of different socioeconomic status tend to have different social networks and how these networks are what most people depend on to get jobs. Correspondingly, low-income people are disadvantaged by their social networks, which are often not as rich with contacts of people that have the power to connect the person to a good-paying job. The report then examines some promising practices of programs that attempt to help low-income earners nurture and better use their networks.
From the introduction:
"Economic changes over the past several decades have created particular challenges for low-skilled and low-income workers.3 The weakening of unions and decline in manufacturing have meant fewer well-paid jobs for low-skilled workers. Furthermore, fewer paths to advancement now exist for workers at the bottom of the earnings ladder. In addition, there has been an increasing demand for education and technological skill at all levels of the labor market. Related to these structural changes has been a significant decline in the real wages of low-skilled workers."
"To add to these challenges, many low income job seekers lack the connections and resources necessary to secure what good jobs are available. While poor skills and low educational attainment both play a strong role in determining the labor market outcomes of these individuals, there are other barriers to success."
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"Class and Race
"To a large extent, the schism between low-income job seekers and people with information about good jobs or the power to influence hiring is an issue of class. While it may be that class lines in the United States are more fluid than in many other societies, class is still a powerful force that shapes human interaction in society at large and in the labor market. People tend to associate with those who are of the same social class, and thus networking tends to occur within class boundaries. Similarly, people tend to interact with individuals of the same race—either due to basic patterns of socializing or outright discrimination—inhibiting networking beyond racial lines."
"The lack of social integration is particularly apparent in low-income inner-city communities, which tend to be characterized by concentrated poverty. Wilson (1987) argues that the flight of working-class and middle- class African American families from poor urban neighborhoods has led to a situation of extreme social isolation for poor urban blacks. While this has multiple consequences for the health and welfare of inner-city residents, the most significant may be the impact it has on employment networks. As Wilson writes, “People experience a social isolation that excludes them from the job network system that permeates other neighborhoods and that is so important in learning about or being recommended for jobs.”8"
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Practical application:
"Building Networking Skills
StreetWise Partners dedicates classroom time to teaching networking skills. Activities include identifying the people in one’s network, understanding the importance of informational interviews and learning about the “30-second elevator pitch.” The 30-second elevator pitch is important because it can help participants make a good impression when they have an unanticipated networking encounter. In a session P/PV observed, the guest speaker outlined the key components of the 30-second pitch, which he said should include:
- Who you are;
- What you are looking for;
- What your experience is; and
- Why it is important to the company.
"He also suggested that participants come up with three strong points about themselves to highlight in their pitch. For example, he said that he introduces himself as “smart, honest and hard-working.” After the speaker introduced the concept, participants spent time developing their own speeches and then delivered them to the class, which provided helpful feedback."
